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ALERT: Support New Medical Marijuana Bills in Congress

Submitted by David Borden on (Issue #687)
Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy

On May 25, 2011, a bipartisan group of US Representatives introduced three new medical marijuana bills. H.R. 1983 would exempt people complying with state medical marijuana laws from federal arrest and prosecution. H.R. 1984 would protect banks accepting deposits made by medical marijuana dispensaries. And H.R. 1985 would allow the dispensaries to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes like any other business, putting an end to dozens of industry IRS audits already underway.

Please use our online web form
to contact your US Representative and your two US Senators in support of these important bills. Please follow-up by calling their offices too -- if you don't know their numbers (or aren't sure who they are), you can reach them by calling the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. And please use our tell-a-friend form that you'll find on the site after sending your letter to spread the word.

Click here
 to read the Chronicle report on these three bills -- and be sure to sign up for our email list while you're here, or paste our medical marijuana category feed into your RSS reader.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

While I do have a great deal of respect for the people championing these bills, I can't help but wonder why they are making more contradictory laws instead of working to actually fix the underlying problem -- by joining in the growing chorus of calls for an immediate and abrupt end to our failed prohibition of cannabis altogether.  We shouldn't be exempt from federal law because we use cannabis as medicine, federal law MUST be changed in light of the proven medical utility of cannabis.  Why waste more time and resources, playing contradictory games with the poor, defeated prohibitionists?

Tue, 06/07/2011 - 6:34pm Permalink

Ron Paul is going to win the Republican candidacy and he'll win against Barack Obama for the same reason that Obama's approval first plummeted: marijuana policy. It's time for a change. People are getting antsy. We're going to see full legalization in the next five years and it's going to be because of the hard work of Dr. Paul.

 

Let's raise our glasses to a day where we can raise our lighters... then spark up the biggest doobie we've ever smoked.

 

Amen

Wed, 06/22/2011 - 10:48pm Permalink
borden (not verified)

Because the prohibitionists aren't defeated yet and still control most of the Congress, and because we think that overall legalization will be set back too if the government succeeds in dismantling the infrastructure that has built up around medical marijuana. And because medical marijuana patients and the people who provide for them deserve our support too.

Sun, 06/12/2011 - 1:43pm Permalink
Elizabeth Allen (not verified)

   Hey, I would like to have something to say.. If I were u and I would legalize cannabis.. I would checking the patients and see if the patients have a clean criminal records before giving them a pains and cannabis prescriptions.. We the clean patients are innocent because of criminal patients takes a pains medicines then selling on street to get hardcore drugs.. Hardcore drugs can pass the test but not cannabis..  We the clean patients have a real proof of pains and do using a prescriptions with cannabis... All we needs a new commissioner who are in supporting about that cannabis law.. The doctors and the clinics should stop drugs test patients and should be very much opens minds about this ... All doctors should have checking the criminals records before handling the patients with prescriptions and cannabis, too... We all also wants same things that the others states that already pass cannabis law... We people up here do have a feelings and we're not aminals.. All I ask you to be open mind and supporting cannabis as medicines.. Thank you for your time to listen me...

Sun, 06/12/2011 - 6:27pm Permalink
Trb (not verified)

I Live in Arkansas, an I sent the State Rep's a copy of the web form. They are the most Naive an Prejudice people , I have ever spoken to , they still think these movement is all about a drug, this movement is about using a god given plant, that has more uses than any other plant in this world starting with : Energy, Paper, Fuel , Medicine an many more....... It sadden's me to know people actually voted for these people.......an my future depends on them.

Fri, 06/17/2011 - 11:48am Permalink
Trb (not verified)

I Live in Arkansas, an I sent the State Rep's a copy of the web form. They are the most Naive an Prejudice people , I have ever spoken to , they still think these movement is all about a drug, this movement is about using a god given plant, that has more uses than any other plant in this world starting with : Energy, Paper, Fuel , Medicine an many more....... It sadden's me to know people actually voted for these people.......an my future depends on them.

Fri, 06/17/2011 - 11:50am Permalink
MaryJane Rx (not verified)

Why waste more time and resources, playing contradictory games with the poor, defeated prohibitionists?

Because that's what government does. They regulate. They're trying to support the states with medical marijuana laws in place, to clear up some of the confusion until a time when everybody can get on board.

Generally, I say the government moves in baby steps when it comes to these types of issues. However, these aren't baby steps. This really is a big step in supporting mmj patients. It would reduce the fear of DEA raids on people who are following the laws for their state. This means that dispensaries will be able to choose from a wider variety of banks and credit card processors. It means that dispensaries also have an equal stand when it comes to the IRS and taxes. And most important... regulation is akin to legitimization. It's hard to shut down an entire industry when you're collecting tax revenue from it.

Plus, we may actually get to see what politicians are really on what side of this issue. Time for them to stop the chatter and get on record. We'll see if any of these bills ever make it out of committee.

You may not get everything you want (right now), but you should celebrate and accept that you're getting some of what you want. Especially regarding this issue.

Sat, 06/18/2011 - 9:29pm Permalink

Yes, I said it. The Witch Doctors were right all along - this plant IS good for something. Matter of fact, marijuana has the potential (once counted in GDP) to give media and government officials PLENTY of opportunities to smear a campaign on how America is getting better and how our economy is doing well and how people are generally happier and all... once Prohibition is over. Those who haven't embraced the change are certain to look back on the decision to legalize and wind up seeing the benefits post-fact. Right now there are a lot of belligerent, stubborn a-holes trying to be their grandfathers but their time has come. It's time for a conservative right that conserves our freedom and MAKES things right!

 

Ron Paul 2012!

Wed, 06/22/2011 - 10:53pm Permalink

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